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President’s Weekly Update - Week of Monday, June 18

Board Passes Budget for 2013-14

The Board of Control today passed our operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The legislative target for tuition increases was 3.75 percent and we stayed below that target with an increase of 3.72 percent. We recognize that the price to attend is no small sum and we continue to increase University-sponsored scholarships and financial aid to assist students, but we also think that an SVSU education – at the lowest tuition rates in Michigan – remains a demonstrable bargain.

Board Approves Faculty Promotions/Tenure

The Board approved a series of faculty promotions today. All of these colleagues were recommended for their new ranks upon review by the Professional Practices Committee.

Several Colleagues Granted Emeritus Status

A number of our colleagues have retired over the past year or so, and today the Board granted emeritus status to nine faculty and staff who have served with distinction. The Board and I extend our congratulations for jobs well done and hope they will continue to remain connected to SVSU. They are:

Janalou Blecke, Dean and Professor of Nursing Emerita

Diane Boehm, Director of the University Writing Program Emerita

Bob Braddock, Professor of History Emeritus

Susie Emond, Dean and Professor of Teacher Education Emerita

Doug Hansen, Professor of Teacher Education Emeritus

Eric Petersen, Professor of History Emeritus

Tom Renna, Professor of History Emeritus

Janet Robinson, Professor of Psychology Emerita

Jill Wetmore, Dean and Professor of Finance

Retiring

On a personal note, I have told the Board of Control that it is time to start the process of selecting my successor as president of SVSU. They will make an announcement about that very soon. Our University is in a strong position and since transition is inevitable this is a good time for it to happen. I will serve in this position until a new president is chosen and ready to start. Then, after a sabbatical leave (the first in my career), I'll be back on campus to teach.

I'll find other opportunities to thank all of you for your support, friendship and, when necessary, your forgiveness over the past 24 years. But for now, we all have a lot of work to do getting the University ready for the academic year ahead. So... on we go.